Woke early this morning and feed the dogs so we could go to early service and Sunday School be out by 11:00am. Thad behaved so well and of course turned heads of people because he so gorgeous. We practiced watch me and I let him chase his treat as I through them so he wouldn't get bored. Also practice walking around the stool. Sit stays and comes with fronts no finish. Then we went and hear my friend give her story and he laid down the whole time. I got up to use the restroom towards the end and people were amazed he was with me he was so well behaved no one knew he was there. It was a good talk and know they asked me to speak 3/17 I'm excited it been awhile since I have talked.

Practiced the stool, sit stays, watch me, heels when he is no where near me, and come when called. Went early to RROTC tonight we aren't having class tonight because of the monthly meeting so Thad and I practiced and visited for awhile. He was full of piss and vinegar at the end of the meeting and acted up. Also, I had his training harness on him because I was running late and it was in the car. He can move more in the training harness and it is not the proper harness for us as a team. He behaves so much better with his other harness on, I guess you could say he is more serious in that harness. Anyway I tried to cook up some sausage for treats this morning, it crumbled and went over like a turd in a punch bowl to work with, so we stopped by the store on the way home and I got some more steak for him. I have lost 9lbs this last week watching my cholesterol, not drinking sodas and all the time we spend practicing at home and RROTC:)

We slept most of the day as it was raining. After dinner, but before I feed Thad, we practice on the stool heels, sitting and laying deep pressure therapy, fronts in hall, and lastly sit automatically on halts. He is getting the idea of going around the stool with paws up on it following me and staying in heel position. Is doing great on deep pressure just have to increase time he stays on me. Did absolutely wonderfully on his fronts and automatic sits on halt.

Rob made me a card for valentines and took me to the Crawfish Palace for dinner. I know I shouldn't have but I gave Thad a crawfish and the look on his face when he put it in his mouth was priceless. Afterwards we went to Fred's to get some treats for practice that night. At practice we were right next to a puppy class and Thad was distracted so he got up once on a sit stay and I moved up closer for the rest of the stays. He also went around to a heel in anticipation and skipped the front on the front/finish.

Went to class tonight I worked on heels on a stool today and sitting automatically on halts before class today. At class we leaned an easier way to make sure they turn right around the cones when doing them.

Decided to take another beginners class at RROTC and Joyce is teaching it. We learned some helpful hints on heeling tonight as far as competition would go but he is good as far as SD skills. I just want him to be able to pass the CGC so I am going to keep taking the class till he can do a down stay with me gone for 3 mins. Overall the class is great I love getting different training skills.

Had breakfast Sunday at church and Thad laid down and stayed the whole time. He went through the line for food like a champ and did not try to get to food.

Went to Barkus & Meow this afternoon and did a demonstration with the other club members. There where so many people there, at first he was calm but after we got off stage there were so many more people who arrived and were still arriving that Thad & I were getting stressed so we left. When we introduced ourselves to the crowd I told everyone he has been training at RROTC since he was 10wks and was training to be my service dog. He did everything I asked of him during the demonstration just kept looking around at all the people when he was in either a sit stay or down stay. I was proud of the both of us for how we handled everything with all the people there. We bought him this hat that was green, yellow, & purple, it looked like he had colorful dreadlocks. Also people kept taking pictures of us, it was really bothering me, my husband said you two might be in the local paper. When he said that I could feel my chest tighten and my Thad came to my rescue keeping me grounded so I did not have a panic attack. We took a nap immediately when we got home then had supper.

Yesterday took Thad to the groomers and he is so handsome. She made him a bow on his collar for the Mardigra for the Barkus and Meow thing tomorrow. Practiced paws and lap with lean incorporated. I had glasses made for me to read with but they got the prescription wrong, now have to go back Monday after they call my doctor. The groomer told me about saddle soap and mink oil to use on his harness to soften it so he won't run every time I try to put it on him because it is so stiff. Then I ran buy the dollar general and I did all that while Thad was at the groomers but my chest started tightening so I ran back to PetSmart where I could see Thad. I went back by Vision for less after he was finished with his grooming and found out about the goof up on glasses. Cleaned his harness with the saddle soap before we went to bed.

Today we went to Kitchen Collection, Krogers, and the Dollar Tree and his manners where so great everyone kept telling me how well behaved he was. When we got home after letting others dogs out we retreated to the practice room and worked on everything we have learned so far and I even incorporated Take it. He seem to be getting the idea and does bring toys to me occasionally so I think he will pick up on it fast. After the people on this assistance dogs list I on schooled me in the way to use the mink oil I spent about a half hour working with it and the harness.

Practiced paws yesterday and added lap to it with him doing it on me, he's got it just need to keep practicing. Later that night we went to RROTC for practice on down stays for 3min & sit stays for 3 min, also supervised separations. I am thinking about taking another beginners class just to have something keep us motivated and since I am a member its only half price. This Sunday they are having Barkus and Meow on the Riverfront and we have been asked to attend in a demonstration.
Today we again practiced on paws on lap and he is doing great. Then went to a meeting where he had perfect manners.

Did some practicing around the house. I have made my garage a practice area. We practiced paws on chair and also paws on me in chair he is making great strides there. We also practiced all the novice stuff. Went to RROTC that night and we practiced supervised separation and he did really well there it won't be long for the CGC. Also practiced walking around the ring with him sitting in place like for competitions. I don't ever plan on competing but think constant practice no matter what it is with other dogs is good.